1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Edge MS(PCGS#9135)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

3419

等级

MS64

价格

274,204

详细说明

This is certainly one of the most significant examples of this classic Saint-Gaudens double eagle issue that we have ever had the privilege of bringing to auction. It is a fresh, fully original near-Gem that is making its first ever appearance in the numismatic market. The coin is accompanied by an old handwritten note, 73.5 mm x 37 mm, actually a piece of our consignor's father's personal stationary. The note reads:<p><em>Dear Elliott:</em><p><em>Mr. Stuy Fish, through his uncle who was Asst. Sec. of the Treasury, got me this gold piece from the Sub Treasury in 1917. I believe it was St. Gaudens [sic] who designed the coin and 10000 [sic] were struck off. They were called in because they would not stack properly. However, I kept mine + I'm giving it to you for your coin collection.</em><p><em>Merry Christmas.</em><p><em>Love</em><p><em>Dad</em><p>In addition to the mintage figure, we believe that the provenance for this coin given in the note is incorrect. The "Stuy Fish" referenced is Stuyvesant Fish, whose brother Hamilton Fish II "was selected in 1903 to serve as assistant treasurer of the United States in charge of the Wall Street sub-treasury in the administration of Theodore Roosevelt," per <em>Wikipedia</em>. We believe this coin originated with Hamilton Fish, Stuy Fish's brother, not uncle. And inasmuch as Hamilton Fish's tenure as Assistant Treasurer of the United States ended in 1908, it is more likely that, instead of getting this coin from the Wall Street Sub-Treasury in 1917, he was one of many members of Theodore Roosevelt's government that received a High Relief double eagle directly from the president shortly after the coins were struck. In our Spring 2024 Auction we offered another example of this issue originally gifted by President Roosevelt in 1908, in that case to his Secretary of Agriculture James "Tama Jim" Wilson.<p>It is certainly a rare occasion in today's market when an example of this iconic issue makes its first ever appearance. And this is a lovely Choice Mint State coin with richly original olive-orange color and a full endowment of soft satin luster. Fully struck and crisp with only a few light to moderate handling marks precluding an even higher grade. An impressive piece worthy of a strong premium. (Total: 1 coin; 1 note)